The Exploration of Racialised and Gendered Classification Processes in Text-to-image Generation Models.

Convenor

Sara Badran-Tetley (https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/about/people/sara-badran/?category=1946)

Sara Badran-Tetley is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge and is particularly interested in how coloniality is a central design feature in the infrastructure and architecture of GenAI systems and how that framework intersects with racially and gendered discriminations in outputs. Sara also focuses on how AI intersects with political, economic and social sectors including democracy and freedom of speech. Sara holds an MPhil in Digital Humanities from the University of Cambridge, as well as a triple First-class BA (Hons) in Film & Television Studies from the University of Exeter, where she focused on intercultural conflict and postcolonialism using case study approaches through screen media.

Description

In this workshop we will explore how variances in language lead to different processing and sorting techniques amongst GenAI text-to-image generation models. We will analyse visual differences as well as explore the layers between language and image in classification processes. There will also be further opportunity to map this out according to cosine similarity scores to analyse trends and wider patterns in processes of racial and gendered classifications whilst posing discussion around what these implications mean for marginalised communities among the widespread adoption of GenAI.

Is any equipment or Software required?

Participants will need to bring their own laptop and we will use free online software such as Canva.

Target Audience

Our CDH Methods workshops have limited places and are prioritised for students and staff at the University of Cambridge. However, if space is available, we welcome all participants who want to learn and apply digital methods and use digital tools in their research.

This session may be of particular interest to:

PhD students in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Early Career Researchers in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Contact CDH

If you have specific accessibility needs for this event, please get in touch. We will do our best to accommodate any requests, however please note that the building is grade 2 listed and has 4 steps into the building so unfortunately wheelchair access is not available.

This workshop is part of our Methods Fellowship programme, which develops and delivers innovative teaching in digital methods. You can read more about the programme here (https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/methods/methods-fellowships-2026-27/)and view the complete series of workshops here (https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/events/?type=1813&range=upcoming).

Description supplied by the event organiser.